GOOOOAAAAAL!!!! Cannavaro heads square to Gladiator inside the Parma 6-yard box after a majestic free kick curled in from the left by Recoba. Gladiator's first attempt is parried by Frey, then he follows up with a shot that hits the back of the net.

29'

Recoba picks out Martins on the edge of the Parma area. Ferrari makes a crucial intervention to neutralise the danger. Corner to Inter.

26'

The game has stopped momentarily as Benarrivo's cut above his left eye has reopened. Ferrari also requires attention to a rather large looking bruise on his head.

22'

Adriano again.... This time, Toldo punches clear a 25-yard free kick from the Brazilian.

20'

Adriano volleys a left-footed shot past Toldo after latching on to a long ball forward from Benarrivo, but it's disallowed for offside.

19'

Unmarked inside the Inter box, Adriano gets in a header from a Benarrivo cross. Toldo makes an easy save, but in any case the offside flag goes up.

11'

Almeyda gets back well to intercept a Barone pass to Mutu inside the Inter box. Corner to Parma.

9'

Emre takes on two men before passing square to Di Biagio in a central position on the edge of the Parma box. Di Biagio makes the return pass, but it's too long.

6'

Conceicao finds space on the right and makes a run on goal, but his final shot is too weak and is easily collected by Frey.

3'

After a two-minute interruption due to an injury to Benarrivo, the game gets underway again. Parma momentarily down to ten men.

2'

Pasquale plays a long ball forward to Martins on the left wing. Martins passes to Recoba, who passes to Emre. The Turks's diagonal shot is saved by Frey.

1'

Inter kick off tonight's Serie A Week 15 clash at Tardini stadium. An Inter victory will put the side back on top of the Serie A. FORZA NERAZZURRI!!!

Minutes

Text commentary

48'

Full time.2-1 to Inter and a Merry Nerazzurri Xmas.

47'

Marchionni wastes a clear-cut chance for Parma, shooting wide of the far post after receiving a through ball into the area by Nakata.

45'

If we hang on for 3 more minutes, then it's 3 points for us and the Serie A top spot over Xmas.

44'

Recoba strikes a free kick 20 yards out to the left of the area straight at Frey.

The only previous meeting in official matches between Prandelli
and Cuper is related to last year's Serie A match between Inter
and Venezia in Venice. With the score locked at 1-1, Adriano
scored a late winner for the Nerazzurri, his first goal in the Italian
top flight.

In detail:

2001/02 Serie A Venezia-Inter
---- 1-2

All the Nerazzurri stats of 2002

Inter's match against Parma is the last of the calendar year. The
Milanese outfit have played 50 matches so far (32 in the Serie A,
2 in the Coppa Italia, 10 in the Champions League and 6 in the
UEFA Cup), registering 27 wins, 14 draws and 9 defeats. A total
of 91 goals have been scored, and 55 let in. The most present
player is Javier Zanetti with 47 appearances, followed by Toldo
with 46. The Inter captain is also top for the number of minutes
played (4184'), followed by Toldo (4138'). Di Biagio is the Inter
player that has been substituted the most times (18), while Emre is
the player who has come on as a substitute the most (13). Di
Biagio and Cordoba have both picked up a record 12 yellow cards
each for the Nerazzurri this season, while Cannavaro,
Conceiçao, Emre, Morfeo and Toldo have each been red-carded
on one occasion. Nerazzurri top scorer in 2002 is Vieri with 23
goals, and with 6 more than Del Piero, Bobo is certain to be Serie
A top scorer of the calendar year. Javier Zanetti has played more
minutes than any other Serie A player, and Inter are on course to
becoming the side that has scored more goals in the Italian top
flight in 2002 with 60 goals so far. Roma have also scored 60
goals, while Lazio and Juventus have notched 59.

More players on target for Inter than any other Serie A side this season

No less than 11 Nerazzurri have scored in the 2002/03 season so
far. Kallon, who scored against Atalanta last Sunday, joins Adani,
Crespo, Di Biagio, Emre, Materazzi, Morfeo, Okan, Recoba, Vieri
and Javier Zanetti on the Inter scorers' chart. Inter are the side
with the highest number of players on the Serie A top scorers'
chart, followed by Juventus, Chievo, Parma, Roma and AC Milan,
who have each scored goals with 10 different players.

Cuper's Nerazzurri close to record 4 away matches without victory

Should Inter not win away to Parma on Sunday, it will be the first
time the Nerazzurri under Cuper have gone 4 matches away from
home without a win. For the second time since the Argentine took
over at the Milanese club, the team has gone 3 matches away
from home without a win - Roma 2-2 Inter, AC Milan 0-1 Inter and
Lazio 3-3 Inter this season, and Udinese 1-1 Inter, Juventus 0-0
Inter and Roma 0-0 Inter last season.